Redbird Buzz

Dr. Dawn McBride, professor of psychology at Illinois State University, has been teaching and researching human memory for decades. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, McBride explains the inner workings of how we remember—and how we forget. McBride is featured in the fall 2023 Redbird Scholar magazine.

Dr. Judy Neubrander, dean of the Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN), is a tenured nursing professor with more than 25 years of academic experience who is leading the college through a time of expansion and opportunity. To help address the nationwide nursing shortage, MCN will officially open a new location in Springfield, in partnership with Memorial Health, on August 18, and the $18 million, 16,000-square-foot expansion of the MCN Simulation Center is underway and scheduled to be completed by fall 2024. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Neubrander shares how MCN is poised to face the nursing shortage head-on, how current students are learning to care for themselves along with their patients, and how MCN's new location and and expanded simulation center will help produce the next generation of nurses.

Dr. Taiwo Durowade ’09 is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist who has practiced in south suburban Chicago for the past five years. Durowade joins Redbird Buzz to discuss how—and why—she focuses her practice on preventative care. She also talks about utilizing social media to deliver free medical advice to maximize her impact.

Durowade earned a bachelor’s in biochemistry and molecular biology at Illinois State University in 2009. She went on to obtain her M.D. at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, followed by residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is featured in the summer 2023 State alumni magazine.

Greg Cameron ’80 is the president and chief executive officer at the internationally renowned Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Cameron connects the dots from his formative years growing up in western suburban Westchester, to discovering a love for performing arts at Illinois State University, to serving the Chicago arts scene for nearly 40 years. Cameron earned a bachelor’s in German, with an art history minor, from Illinois State in 1980. He is now in his 11th year with the Joffrey, and he is featured in the summer 2023 State alumni magazine.

Special education alum and College of Education 2022 Hall of Fame inductee Dr. joyce gillie gossom '78 joins Redbird Buzz to share how her experience at Illinois State University paved the way for a dynamic career, which has included experiences as a teacher, elected official, consultant, leadership coach, higher education administrator, and author.

During this episode of Redbird Buzz, gillie gossum discusses her journey to Illinois State University, how her all-lowercase name came to be, and how a degree in special education opened doors into leadership and consulting across industries. She also reflects upon how her focus on gratitude and empathy have played a role in her professional successes.

Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance alum Erin Levzow '06 has created a unique path through her career. From starting out in Las Vegas after graduation with $800 in her pocket, to currently serving as the chief marketing officer at the Museum of Ice Cream in Chicago, Levzow has leveraged her theatre degree and the life skills it taught her, and she has been "collecting experiences" at every stop along the way.

In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Levzow shares how her Midwestern roots helped land her first marketing job, how Theatre of Ted and their mission of "daring to suck" prepared her for a future as a marketing executive, and she provides advice to young female professionals looking to take their seat at the corporate table.

Illinois State University alum and current scientific associate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Candice Halbert '01 joins Redbird Buzz to share stories from her time as a chemistry major on campus and her journey to being named one of PEOPLE Magazine's "Women Changing the World in 2023." In this episode, Halbert discusses the importance of representation in STEM fields and how her work with her non-profit Yo-STEM is introducing science, technology, engineering, and math to the next generation in Knoxville, Tennessee. She also shares how her experiences in science classes at Illinois State ultimately drew her into chemistry and set her up for career success in her field.

Barb Dallinger ’81, M.S. ’01, an Illinois State University alum, retiree, and leader of the University's LGBTQA+ Alumni Network, sits down with Redbird Buzz to share experiences from her time as a student, her 30-year career as an employee on campus, and as a leader and advocate for the University's LGBTQIA+ community.

Dallinger graduated from Illinois State with a degree in music and worked in a variety of roles at ISU. She spent the most time on campus as associate director of events and catering in Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality. Dallinger recounts her experience as an undergrad student and the harassment she endured because of her sexual orientation. She became a "champion" for future LGBTQA+ Redbirds and strived to create safe spaces on campus, most notably through her role as an advisor for the registered student organization PRIDE.

Dallinger also shares fond memories of her time as an employee on campus and provides insight into what it was like serving as the Braden Auditorium manager in the Bone Student Center and working with famous musicians—from Sara Evans to George Jones—who performed there. She also teases content from her forthcoming book about her time at Illinois State.

Political science major Ash Ebikhumi just wrapped up his junior year at Illinois State University and sat down with Redbird Buzz to talk about his unique experience as the only student representative on the University's Board of Trustees. Ebikhumi was elected as student trustee by the student body and sworn into the role in October 2022. He will serve another term for the 2023-24 academic year.

In this episode, Ebikhumi shares insight into what it's like being the youngest member of the Board of Trustees, his approach to being the voice of the student body in that group, and how holding leadership positions in registered student organizations on campus ultimately led him to run for student trustee.

Actor, comedian, singer, host, and producer Jane Lynch '82 sits down with Redbird Buzz to discuss the latest addition to her long list of titles—director. Lynch is visiting the Illinois State University campus this spring as an artist in residence, directing School of Theatre and Dance students in a staged reading of the Neil Simon comedy Lost in Yonkers.

Lynch is best known for her Emmy Award-winning role as Sue Sylvester on the musical TV comedy hit Glee, but she rose to fame with her breakout role in Christopher Guest's mockumentary Best in Show. She has played numerous roles on TV shows, including Two and a Half Men, Criminal Minds, and Only Murders in the Building. She has also appeared in several movies, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Role Models, and Julie and Julia. Most recently, Lynch starred on stage in the 2022 Broadway revival of Funny Girl.

Tune in to this episode to hear Lynch discuss her experience as a student at Illinois State and how her time in the School of Theatre and Dance prepared her for a decades-long career in Hollywood. Lynch also discusses how a Frosted Flakes commercial kick-started her career, what prompted her return to campus as a director, and she shares advice for aspiring actors.